“One Second” by Vít Klusák: a Czech film on driving mistakes

Czech director Vít Klusák has returned after more than three years with a new feature-length documentary, “One Second”. It will open in cinemas on October 27, 2026, distributed by Bontonfilm, and from November 15 it can be watched on the Oneplay platform.

The film tells four real stories of road accidents and of the people whose lives were changed by a decision that seemed ordinary at the time. It is a loose follow-up to the documentary “13 Minutes”, but this time it looks even more closely at the moments before a crash and at the consequences that last for years.

A campaign against everyday risk

The film was made as part of the “Normal driving kills” prevention campaign run by the Czech Insurance Association. It highlights behavior that drivers easily excuse because it has become part of everyday traffic: a glance at the phone, following too closely, driving a little too fast, or getting behind the wheel despite being tired. Each of these habits seems not all that dangerous, yet in a single moment it can change the lives of several people.

The association’s executive director, Jan Matoušek, listed the typical excuses drivers make: “I’ll just take a quick look at my phone,” “I’ll make the orange light,” “I can manage these few kilometers even when tired.” In his words, the consequences of a crash are borne not only by the victims but also by those who caused it, and by their families. He hopes viewers will remember this when they get behind the wheel.

What lies behind serious crashes

A serious accident is not necessarily preceded by alcohol, high speed or aggressive driving. Often it all begins with a few seconds of inattention, a gap that is too short, or a decision to keep driving despite exhaustion. The film features drivers who caused crashes, relatives of those who died, and other motorists, and its central question is why we grasp the risk and its price only when the decision can no longer be undone.

According to Klusák, documentary film turns reality into a story, and the story of a specific person who made a common mistake at the wheel with a tragic outcome feels closer than a crime-news item. Viewers at test screenings began a heated discussion after the film about how they drive themselves and which violations they commit most often. That, the director says, is exactly the point of the film.

Around Prague, based on reporting by prazskypatriot.cz